June 7, 2023 - Vista, California - Axiom Test Equipment, Inc., an electronic test equipment rental
and sales company has published a new blog post that covers how high-speed oscilloscopes
with on-board spectrum analysis capability can be a more efficient testing approach.
Traditionally, testing in the time and frequency domains meant separate signal paths
and separate units. An oscilloscope shows signals in the time domain while a spectrum
analyzer shows signals in the frequency domain. However, a more efficient approach
- and
a less crowded test bench - can be achieved using a high-speed oscilloscope with on-board
spectrum analysis capability. That way, it is possible to have multiple looks at
a signal of interest with a single unit.
Specifying a combination oscilloscope/spectrum analyzer requires defining performance
ranges for the two units, so that each will deliver the capabilities needed for
a targeted set of test applications. For an oscilloscope, this typically includes
the number of measurement channels, bandwidth per channel, sample rate, vertical
bit resolution, trigger level range, time base range, noise floor, and acceptable
jitter. For a spectrum analyzer, it is number of channels, frequency range, acquisition
bandwidth range, frequency resolution, and minimum/maximum signal power or dynamic
range.
Learn more about the combination units that can save time and clutter on a test
bench and the tedium of carrying multiple testers into the field. Read the full
blog post on
Axiom's website.
Oscilloscopes and spectrum analyzers are two of the most essential electronic
test equipment, offering two views of electrical energy. An oscilloscope shows signals
in the time domain, plotting amplitude versus time. A spectrum analyzer shows signals
in the frequency domain, with amplitude displayed versus frequency. The different
views can be useful when tracing faults in circuits, especially with mixed signals.
These test units help analyze continuous-wave (CW), radio-frequency (RF), pulsed,
and a variety of different electronic signals, with insights provided by the mixed
signal domains. Traditionally, testing in the time and frequency domains meant separate
signal paths and separate units. However, a more efficient approach - and a less
crowded test bench - can be achieved using a high-speed oscilloscope with on-board
spectrum analysis capability. That way, it is possible to have multiple looks at
a signal of interest with a single unit.
Oscilloscopes have long been workhorse equipment for measuring AC and DC voltages
of various waveforms, such as sinewaves and square waves. They are available for
analyzing high-speed signals and, with suitable test probes, can show the effects
of design changes to a circuit and how variations in operating conditions can affect
electronic performance over time. Some modern oscilloscopes add the convenience
of spectrum analysis capability, either in software or hardware form. Oscilloscopes
with software spectrum analyzers apply digital signal processing (DSP) to captured
signal data to create a spectral display of signal amplitude versus frequency much
like the screen of a traditional spectrum analyzer. Some oscilloscopes integrate
a spectrum analyzer receiver printed-circuit board (PCB) or module within their
cabinets so that separate units reside within the same housing and control center.
Specifying a combination oscilloscope/spectrum analyzer requires defining performance
ranges for the two units, so that each will deliver the capabilities needed for
a targeted set of test applications. For an oscilloscope, this typically includes
the number of measurement channels, bandwidth per channel, sample rate, vertical
bit resolution, trigger level range, time base range, noise floor, and acceptable
jitter. For a spectrum analyzer, it is number of channels, frequency range, acquisition
bandwidth range, frequency resolution, and minimum/maximum signal power or dynamic
range. Whether for design, manufacturing, or in-field testing, a single unit with
the features of both units and with a practical user interface can reduce clutter
and increase measurement power.
Whatever type of testing your project requires, rent or buy quality test equipment
from Axiom Test Equipment. For over 15 years Axiom Test Equipment has rented, sold,
repaired and accepted trade-in of test equipment to support your test & measurement
needs. If you would like help selecting any type of test equipment for your next
project, contact Axiom Test Equipment's sales department at
sales@axiomtest.com,
call 760-806-6600, or browse Axiom Test Equipment's inventory online at
www.axiomtest.com.
About Axiom Test Equipment
Get Exactly What You Need. Rent - Buy
- Repair - Trade-In
Established in 2005, Axiom Test Equipment strives to continually improve itself
and offer the best value for its customers. We offer our customers several practical,
efficient and cost effective solutions for their business or projects' test equipment
needs. Whether you need to
rent & buy test equipment,
repair
test equipment, sell or trade equipment, we are committed to providing superior
customer service and high quality electronic test equipment.
At Axiom Test Equipment we provide several services. We
rent electronic test and measurement equipment. We also sell test
equipment. If you have a piece of malfunctioning or broken test equipment we also
have an in-house repair lab. For anyone seeking a way to offload their surplus or
obsolete equipment, we offer a trade-in program or we can buy the equipment from
you.
We stock a comprehensive inventory of equipment and can use our extensive network
to find you those hard to get items. We believe in getting equipment to you quickly
and at a competitive price.
Contacts
Fabian Garcia Marketing Coordinator Axiom Test Equipment 2610 Commerce
Way Vista, CA 92081 Phone: (760) 806-6600
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